Housing structure, electronic apparatus, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A housing structure includes an exterior cover having an opening through which an interior of the exterior cover communicates with an exterior of the exterior cover, an interior cover disposed inside the exterior cover and facing the exterior cover with a clearance secured therebetween, an inward projection projecting from the exterior cover to the interior cover, and an outward projection projecting from the interior cover to the exterior cover. The inward projection and the outward projection define an airflow passage in the clearance between the exterior cover and the interior cover, and the airflow passage includes multiple bent portions. The outward projection is greater in width than the inward projection in an airflow direction toward the opening, and the airflow direction perpendicular to a direction in which the interior cover faces the exterior cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A housing structure comprising:
 an exterior cover having an opening through which an interior of the exterior cover communicates with an exterior of the exterior cover; 
 an interior cover disposed inside the exterior cover and having an exterior facing the exterior cover with a clearance secured therebetween; 
 an inward projection projecting from the exterior cover to the interior cover; and 
 an outward projection projecting from the interior cover to the exterior cover; 
 wherein the inward projection and the outward projection define an airflow passage in the clearance between the exterior cover and the interior cover, the airflow passage leading to the opening and including multiple bent portions, and 
 an end face of the outward projection closest to the interior of the exterior cover has a width greater than a width of an end face of the inward projection closest to the exterior of the interior cover. 
 
     
     
       2. The housing structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the end face of the outward projection is flat and is disposed facing the exterior cover. 
     
     
       3. The housing structure according to  claim 2 , wherein a distance between the end face of the inward projection and an outer face of the interior cover is shorter than a distance between the flat end face of the outward projection and the outer face of the interior-cover. 
     
     
       4. The housing structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the outward projection is a hollow projection. 
     
     
       5. The housing structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the interior cover includes a communicating opening positioned to face the opening in the exterior cover. 
     
     
       6. The housing structure according to  claim 5 , further comprising an air blower disposed inside the interior cover, the air blower disposed facing the communicating opening to generate airflow that passes through the communicating opening in the interior cover and the opening in the exterior cover. 
     
     
       7. The housing structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior cover is openably closable relative to the interior cover. 
     
     
       8. An electronic apparatus comprising:
 a sound source to generate sound; and 
 the housing structure according to  claim 1  to cover the sound source. 
 
     
     
       9. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:
 a sound source to generate sound; and 
 the housing structure according to  claim 1  to cover the sound source. 
 
     
     
       10. The housing structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the end face of the outward projection is longer than a thickness of a portion of the interior cover around the outward projection.